B-9's DIY 6X7

[B-9]

I recently purchased a Bronica ETRsi and all the jazz this summer, to get back to shooting MF, its a joy to use and alot more usable tha the Kiev and Mamiya 645's ive used in the past. It really got me thinking about a lighter rig with a bigger image. Having built a 4X5 view camera a year ago, i am confident i can build a P&S style 6X7 camera

I first wanted a 6X12 but after much thought, that may be a project for a bigger budget down the road. I opted for the more universal 6X7 format.

I have set a budget of 200$ for myself to build this camera.

My first task was to find a suitable lens to cover 2X3 and be of a "Normal" focal length for 6X7 so a 90mm fit the bill nicely, I purchased a Wollensak 90mm f6.8 WA lens in a Graphex Bipole shutter. The speeds of 1sec and 1/2 sec are off but the price easily allows a CLA in the future.

Next i set my sights on a good film back, i had been looking into the Mamiya Press 6X7/6X9 rollfilm backs, but the prices seemed high. I kept searching until i found a Mamiya 120/220 Power back for the RB (Mini-graflok) mount. I then found a Mamiya Rotating back adaptor to use as my mount, and allows the rotating feature! Awsome! This allows me to mount the film back without needing to modify or figure out how to trip the darkslide catch.
another great feature of this film back is not only being a multi format back but also being motorized! One click of a buttom and it will advance for me, this will def. speed things up in some situations and i can imagine prove to be a worthy feature.

Now it was time to put it all together, and fill in the gaps.
The effective focal length of my 90m lens was just a tad shorter than 90mm and allowed little room to fit a big camera body "box" so i opted instead to make a Frame to mount the adaptor to along with a lens cone and 2 removable grips.

I knew that I wanted to use wood as a medium, i have little tools and experience with fabricating metal. I also knew that a frame as small as I wanted would be far from structural. I thew idea's of brass support in and out of my head for the past week. I have no decided that i can make this frame as small and light as the back will allow wile still using wood, by simply wraping the finished frame in a fibreglass jacket!

Ive made alot of custom skateboards and longboards in highschool and was familiar with using glass in the construction. So it seemed an obvious solution to my strength problem, wile keeping everything at a reasonable weight.

After I solved that problem, i focused in on the Lens cone.
I knew i wanted a circular cone shape that i would hack the top and bottom off to make flat, this was more style than function and would allow a bubble level.

My goal was to keep as much as i could, removable and replaceable.

The grips will be carved from Maple and will have a small metal support bracket to allow a better, tighter mount to the camera. I also plan to make another "Arial" style batch of grips for using a Polaroid back.

So far im still waiting on some odd's and ends, to get deeper into the construction.
Ive attached a photo of the lens and back.

If anyone has some good information on DIY helical focusing mounts i would love to hear it! Ive got a helical from a Olympus 50/1.8 that ive stripped down, and will fit the Wollensak nicely. Not to make sure it will work correctly?

Stay tuned for more photo's! I will be posting alot more closer to Christmas when i expect to have the camera finished.

Photo's from sellers (I dont have a usable digital camera to easily upload photo's of my progress, have to wait for the negs to get developed lol)

 

[oftheherd]

I guess it is just fun to put together projects like this when you have the tools and skills. I wish I did. Silly me, I would have just tried mounting a roll film back on the 4x5. Granted it wouldn't be as small as a straight 6x7 or 6x9 camera. Anyway, looks like a fun project. Please keep us informed of your progress with the camera, and the shots it produces.

Thanks for showing what you have done so far.

 

[venchka]

For $100, give or take, you can buy a perfectly functional Rapid Omega 100 with one of the best 90mm lenses ever made. Down the road you can add the 58mm wide angle.
Good luck!

 

[Frank Petronio]

I invented this thing, it is round and has a hole in the middle. When I tip it up on edge, it will roll. I linked two of them together with a transverse rod, bolted on each end, with a platform on top. I no longer have to drag my goods around - that was "Work v.1.0", now I can easily push them! Call it "Work v.2.0!" I invented a... wheel!

Tomorrow I will invent a lever. Watch out!

Aside from the obvious that you could probably eBay what you've got and get a nice 6x9 medium format press camera that is ready to go, I wish you luck. Here is a little inspiration:

http://www.skgrimes.com/whatsnew/newnow/index.htm

 

[B-9]

I know that I could have easily picked up a 6X7 folder, Rapid Omega, or RB67 for my budget of 200$ But ive bought owned and sold so many different camera's of many sizes and functions.

I really wanted to make my own camera, that would fit the bill perfectly for my needs. Ive always had a DIY approach towards things, if i can make it why buy it!

Im sure I would have been tempted to just buy a manufactured camera if I had all of the 200$ budget at once! But this has been a project pieced together over time and many paychecks. So the damage isnt as bad lol. 40$ here 50$ there, 25$ here, sure it adds up but I feel that this camera will prove its weight in gold. As of right now I have a few minor odds and ends to get.

Cold shoes's for mounting a VF or Flash
Shorter cable release
and a Viewfinder (if i dont end up making my own!)
Maybe a Paramount sync cord for the graphex shutter.

Will post more photo's at the end of this week!

 

[Ezzie]

I say go, go, go, go, go! I built a P+S with LF lens earlier this year. With a 4x5 Graflok back and 6x12 roll film holder. It works a treat. The feeling you get when you get it to work is just like seeing your first roll of film out of the fixer, only 10x better.

 

[B-9]

Thanks for the support Ezzie! I would have loved to put the time into a 6X12! I love the format, im a big fan of panoramics. I just know itll be a long time before I can afford even a DaYi 6X12 back. Im on a 20yr olds College Budget. Its been eight years since I first set my sights on Medium format or photography in general. Im finally gonna have a dream come true, building my own camera. Ive already gotten so much enjoyment just in the planning and fabricating, I cant imagine the excitement ill have when the first roll gets developed!

Today I found a little hack for 6X7 backs, rather simple, to use 35mm film.
It creates a great panoramic effect and the math suggests the resulting negative would be 24X70mm, im def. going to try this and see what happens!
If it is practical, Im sure my 6X12 urges will be silenced for the moment!

 

[B-9]

I got my Revolving back adaptor today in the post, pretty beat up, is the revolving action supposed to be stiff? seems like a hassle to rotate.
This may just be becuase its not attached to anything for leverage.

I have a question for anyone familiar with the RB67 or really taking them apart. Im curious how to remove the 4 mounting plugs/screws on the back?
Ive tried using a screwdriver but they seem awful tight and i dont want to mess the slot up and ruin any chance of removing them. Is there some sort of lock washer in there? looking at them they look as if they'll just unscrew but man theyre on good.

I was thinking some WD40 might crack them loose, but I dont want to spray in there and risk getting it in anything else. I was planning on using the threads for these lugs to mount it to my camera body.

I would really like to know if I can seperate the 2 pieces, to give the track a good cleaning and remove some of the excess material on the camera side. without getting metal shavings inside.

Any input?

 

[jbielikowski]

I used RB back for camera obscura and problem was that with frame counter it wont advance film after first when not mounted on camera and you really took picture. I also took apart as it was old type motored back and removed the motor to make it lighter. Dont know how its in revolving adapter but all screws were tight. Also revolving action was stiff, even seller proposed me to change it for free but I was ok with that.

 

[B-9]

The old Motored backs require a Power module that attachs to the bottom of the camera to function correctly, im sure you knew this.

As far as not advancing, im a little confused by what you mean?

Ive heard from guys on LFF who have used RB67 backs on their 4X5 camera's without any problems (although im sure they had to defeat the dark slide catch for the back to advance) I dont think ill have this probelm becuase im using the Revolving back adapter, which should defeat the darkslide catch on its own, as far as motorized advance, I will have to press the Red "Start" button to get mine to advance for me, or im thinking i can use 2 cable releases, one to trigger the lens and the other to trigger the motor after the exposure has been made. All idea's though, I have yet to examine if this will be possible.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[B-9]

Got everything that needed to be removed gone, and a small tab filed down. The RB adapter is ready to be mounted to my frame. I finished the night up by drilling the wholes for the bolts that will hold the back to body.

Tomorow im going to finish cutting out the groove for the grip and drill the holes for attaching the grip, along with some final sanding and paint!

Then spend some more time on the lens cone when I get a chance.
So far everything is only adding up to 3cm, this means my cone will be another 6cm give or a take a few mm's. Should even the camera out a bit.

 

[B-9]

A few low quality cell phone pic's, Paint tomorow! along with some new photo's.

 

[charjohncarter]

That's a site, Frank.

 

[Renzsu]

Looks good, do you have any light seals in there? How are you going to attach the lens?

Curious to see the first test shots! 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

B-9, I would also like to say: Go with Gusto! 🙂

Ignore those who seem to don't want to open their mind to the joy of DIY-ing your own camera.

I'm in the process (long-process) to finish my own 4x5 rangefinder myself. So I know how exciting it is when you make progress.

As for 6x7 backs, have you considered using Mamiya Press 6x7 backs instead? those are much simpler than the RB and it is self-contained as far as advance lever, counter, and they are pretty thin besides the S-shape which is supposed to improve flatness of the film.

 

[B-9]

The lens will be attached to a cone, with a square base, that will fit snuggly into the recess on the front, it will be held on in the same fashion as a LF View Camera's front standard holds a lens board. No frills :]

The other recess, is for mounting the grip. It sure took some fancy Dremel work to get the front to looks as good as it does. Again not perfect, but after a wile of sanding its about as good as it needs to be! Im lining the front recess with Velvet to act as a light seal. The RB adapter is held on with 4 Metric machine bolts, and has Door seal foam as a light seal. It compress's nicely and im 99.5% sure its light tight. Only testing will say.

@Shadowfox: This camera project has been one of my best experiences in photography so far, its a great feeling to dream something up and then make it reality.

My first choice for a film back was indeed the Mamiya Press backs, and my design was alot simpler then. Due to the steep prices of the press backs, I actually managed to located and buy both the Power Back and the RB adapter for less than it would cost for a "junker" press back. + Having the option for motorized film advance is nice! and suprisingly the Manual Dial advance is really comfortable to use.

The camera so far is about half the weight of my Bronica, and over twice the size! This to me is a good sign, the Birch plywood was a great choice and provides alot more strength than the my original Poplar prototype.

If you guys havnt noticed yet, this is my homemade spin on the Fotoman 69
Although, in the end im sure it wont look anything like the fotoman.

Not sure what else to comment about! lol, everyone in my house is truly amazed by what ive done in my dark little basement workshop. And this camera has already gotten a Nickname along with myself.

Ide like to introduce the FrankenCamera and Dr. Photostein haha.

 

[B-9]

I got some paint on it, and it looks really nice, kind of a Graphite colored textured surface.

Wrapping up all the seals, to be ready to go in after clear coat.

Waiting to work on the lens cone, more like stopped halfway through.
Im swapping out the wollensak for a 65mm Mamiya press lens.